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St Joseph's

Naomh Seosamh CLG
Founded:	1961
County:	Louth
Nickname:	The Joes
Colours:	Green, White and Gold
Grounds:	Cluskey Park, Dromiskin
Coordinates:	53°55′56″N 6°24′27″W / 53.93227°N 6.40751°W / 53.93227; -6.40751
Playing kits
Standard colours

St Joseph's GFC is a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club that fields gaelic football teams in competitions organised by Louth GAA. It is based in the Louth village of Dromiskin, near the county town of Dundalk.

As of 2023, the club competes in the Louth Senior Championship and Division 1 of the county football Leagues.

History

The club was founded in 1961 when members of the two GAA clubs in the parish of Darver and Dromiskin - Darver Volunteers and Dromiskin Unknowns - decided to amalgamate. The new club's first major success came in 1971, when St Joseph's defeated St Patrick's of Lordship in the final of the Louth Junior Championship. In 1983 they overcame Oliver Plunketts in the Louth Intermediate football final. The team progressed to the Louth Senior Football Championship final in 1984, but fell to St Fechin's by five points at the Grove in Castlebellingham.

A further Senior final appearance came in 1994, ending in a two-point defeat to Stabannon Parnells at Haggardstown after a replay. The Joe Ward Cup finally arrived in Dromiskin at the third time of asking in 1996, when St Joseph's triumphed over Stabannon Parnells at Ardee's Páirc Mhuire, by 2–11 to 1–08.

Ten more years would pass until St Joseph's won the Louth Senior Championship for a second time. On a wet day in Dundalk's Clan na Gael Park, the Dromiskin men defeated heavy favourites St Patrick's, who were chasing a third title in four years and whose side contained numerous inter-county players. St Joseph's emerged as 2006 Louth Senior Football Champions by four points, on a scoreline of 2–07 to 0–09.

Honours

• Louth Senior Football Championship (2): 1996, 2006
• Louth Intermediate Football Championship (3): 1983, 1990, 2016
• Louth Junior Football Championship (1): 1971
• Louth Intermediate Football League (2): 1982, 1988
• Louth Minor Football Championship (3): 1994, 2009, 2010
• Louth Under-21 Football Championship (1): 1995
• Louth Junior 2A Football League (2): 1983, 2012
• Louth Junior 2 Football League Division 4B (1): 2008
• Louth Junior 2 Football League Division 5 (1): 2017
• Louth Minor Football League (2): 1993, 1994
• Louth Minor B Football Championship (1): 2004, 2018

Italics denotes combination team with St Vincent's

Inter-county players

St Joseph's players who have represented Louth at senior inter-county level include:

• Jimmy McDonnell
• Ollie McDonnell
• Jimmy McDonnell Jnr
• Pat Mulligan
• Alan O'Connor
• Stephen Melia
• Danny Culligan
• David Mulligan
• Declan O'Sullivan
• David Reilly
• J.P. O'Kane
• Martin Farrelly
• Conall McCaul
• Oisín McGuinness

References

1. "Louth GAA Division 2 league preview". The Argus. 21 April 2023.
2. "Nicky was a great supporter of the GAA". The Argus. 3 April 2013.
3. "Parnells win Joe Ward cup in replay". The Argus. 8 October 2014.
4. "St. Joseph's won Joe Ward with a lot of style in 1996, defeating Stabannon Parnells in Ardee". Dundalk Democrat. 1 April 2018.
5. "Melia a Wee bit special for Joe's". Irish Independent. 9 October 2006.
6. "The proud possessor of two Leinster senior medals". The Argus. 26 November 2008.
7. "Jimmy McDonnell was one of Louth's '57 heroes". The Argus. 7 October 2017.
8. "IFC final: Joes hold off Mattock to record famous victory". Hogan Stand. 26 September 2016.
9. "PATSY CULLIGAN-A GREAT SERVANT TO BOTH CLUB AND COUNTY". Louth GAA. 4 April 2020.
10. "Minor Final 09". Louth GAA. 1 January 2010.
11. "Joes minors throw down the gauntlet". Hogan Stand. 30 December 2010.
12. ^ "Club Call". The Argus. 13 December 2014.
13. "McDonnell Ollie". Hogan Stand. 26 May 1995.
14. "Louth were relegated last time sides met". The Argus. 27 November 2000.
15. "Wee County boss calls up Louth legends". Irish Independent. 23 November 2005.
16. "Louth mourns the death of football legend Stephen Melia". Irish Independent. 24 October 2015.
17. "Louth have lost 14 times in championship clashes with Dublin since 1973". The Argus. 13 May 2023.
18. "Players of the year". Hogan Stand. 20 November 2002.
19. "Accident blow for Louth". Irish Independent. 23 June 1998.
20. "A selection of Louth teams that faced Kerry over the years". Dundalk Democrat. 17 June 2023.
21. "Louth GAA's greatest import? John P O'Kane was a Wee star that contended for an All Star". Dundalk Democrat. 30 May 2020.
22. "Louth's Farrelly announces retirement". Hogan Stand. 14 September 2007.
23. "Dublin cruise past Louth to claim 13th Leinster title in a row". Irish Examiner. 14 May 2023.
24. "Louth lose O'Byrne Cup final battle in Longford – but trip to Clare is far bigger in terms of the war they're fighting". The Argus. 21 January 2023.

• Gaelic Athletic Association clubs established in 1961
• 1961 establishments in Ireland
• Gaelic games clubs in County Louth
• Gaelic football clubs in County Louth